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Do You Choose Situational Blindness? By Mark Hatmaker

“The only fights you truly win are the ones you don’t have.”-Lee Child

Keeping the above quote in mind, along with the fact that crime is a product of opportunity, we go a long way towards being “masters of self-defense” if we simply remove as many opportunities as possible from our behavior.

With that said, let me point to a bit of advice from former CIA operative Jason Hanson, who says that the number one tip he can offer to making anyone and everyone a bit more like Jason Bourne in the modern world, is simply this “always be aware of your surroundings.”

Easier said than done, right? Well, he goes a bit further by offering what he considers the number one concrete tactic to becoming aware of your surroundings-don’t use a smartphone. That’s it.

Mark Hatmaker’s “Elbow Inserts” Technique

He says spy craft prohibits the use of smartphones not simply because of the tracking potential but because it encourages absorption, a retreat from where you are to someplace else that is not here.

He points to the numerous instances of car crashes related to smartphone use, but says that observation does not go far enough. He has catalogued an impressive battery of incidences where victims were chosen simply because they were the unaware animals at the watering hole with their heads down blind to their surroundings.

Lest anyone think that the use of the word blind goes too far, he backs up this contention with copious examples of security camera footage of people simply blindsided in all sorts of public surroundings simply because their eyes were glued to the screen.

Two astonishing examples come to mind-the first a bar is robbed at gunpoint, the predator actually stands next to our smartphone user during the robbery. The smartphone user moves down a seat as if in courtesy giving the man next to him room. He never looks up from the screen. When the police arrive after the robbery, the smartphone user has nothing to offer in assistance, he had no idea the robbery even took place.

The second example sent to me some time back, a man boards a bus in San Francisco the camera shows EVERY other passenger with their faces glued to screens. The newest rider pulls a gun and brandishes it, no one notices it. The predator looks confused, puts the gun away, seems to think for a moment and then pulls it again, this time he uses it-the precious window of reaction to avert a tragedy has been lost.

If (if) we think “Well, I’m not that way, I’m perfectly aware of my surroundings even while I use this marvel of technology” your self-judgment goes against all the science of the brain’s executive function. We simply do not multi-task well.

In a recent study of “time loss perception” smartphone users were monitored while they periodically checked their phones in a casual dining experience. They are being timed by observers on the scene unbeknownst to them.

When approached and asked how long they thought their interaction with the phone had lasted, they unanimously underestimated the phone interaction by 80%. That is, they (we) have no idea how long our attention is actually lost, how long we are blind.

Side-Rant from Mark: I’ve got a biased dog in this fight. I abhor texting and phone use in my presence. I think it’s rude, it says to the others present “Yeah, you’re here but this person that didn’t take the time to actually come out and meet with me is going to get my priority. You’re my analog booty-call.”

This behavior is displayed even by folks whom I personally like, it’s simply a cultural shift I don’t get-I admit that. It would not fly a decade ago. It would be akin to me stopping in mid-conversation, pulling out a worn paperback copy of Moby Dick and knocking off a page or two and then getting back to my fellow human. I think even inveterate texters would find that a bit odd, if not rude.

But I assure you today’s lesson is not “Mark shakes his finger at these kid’s today” it’s about being situationally aware.

Back to the topic at hand…

Blind to our dinner companions is one thing, blind to predators with a gun is another.

Since even highly trained spy personnel are told to drop the smartphone, do you think we the lesser-trained citizens of the world will be any less resistant to its temptations?

I offer a drill, for those brave enough to survive electronically-teatless for a day, dock the phone and be awake in the day. Be aware.

Shoot for a week, particularly if you found the exercise uncomfortable.

I will say, it is an oddity of the power of these devices that often when I offer some clients drills such as complete 500 burpees in the course of a single day or some other such physically taxing challenge, more often than not people step-up. They do it.

When this “wean yourself from the electronic teat drill” is offered the failure rate is far, far higher.

In short, we can’t have it both ways, we can’t be prepared operators in the world who claim to give value to awareness and self-protection and at the same time be checking every ping and chime that sounds in that electronic leash.

Aware animals, operational professionals don’t text, and don’t surf the web outside of the home. It’s either no-phone or a flip-top phone that is, well, a phone.

So, ask yourself, are you aware? If you’re reading this on your phone and you are not at home Mr. Hanson and I both would say you most definitely are not.

For more self defense instruction from Mark Hatmaker click here.

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11 thoughts on “Do You Choose Situational Blindness? By Mark Hatmaker”

  1. A neighbor’s teenage son; football player weighing in at about 190 about 6’1″ got his cheekbone broken because he was on his cellphone not paying attention. The muggers wanted his cellphone. They got it.

    I can think of a few times because I was aware of my surroundings I avoided an armed robbery, being jacked up and caught in between to thugs because I wouldn’t return a stolen credit card to them.

    More recently on my street a man walking in the middle of the street next to my car being friendly as was walking to my car, all of a sudden wants to engage me in discussion and starts to close the distance between me and him. I put my hand in my pants pocket and took one step back and he blew up at me and attempted to menace me which I recorded on my smart phone. Called the police and he was arrested. Later I learned that my concerns we’re good as he had robbed and hurt people before.

    It’s good to be aware of your surroundings, very important, but likewise when seeing things ask yourself does this make rational sense: am I being set up?

    Absolutely being aware is paramount to surviving. The best fights are the one’s you don’t have to have.

    Reply

  2. I’ve often thought that if the audio telephone were invented AFTER texting, people would drop texting like a disease, marveling at the improved communication of actually talking to each other over long distances.

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  3. This article speaks the truth. I see this behavior every day in the streets an subways if nyc ,where people are so absorbed into their cell phones that they aren’t aware of what’s going on them an that they are leaving themselves to be potential victims. Especially with what’s going on in NYc with stabbings an all. Be vigilant of your surroundings, i agree! Good article.

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  4. Agree one hundred percent with what was said, especially the bad manners part….I feel like batting the phones out of the people’s hands when they decide to answer or make a call when in company…or even if they aren’t….and everybody is forced to listen, despite turning my back on the person I can’t help but hear him talk…in fact, most of them make no effort to reduce the volume of their voices when speaking which is forcing those of us who consider it very bad manners, to listen or at least HEAR what is a one sided conversation….sometimes the volume on the phone is turned up fully so we hear both sides of the conversation….a two by four plank would be a very handy item to have to beat the bastard over the head with, maybe teach him a few manners or at least make him ask ”why did you do that?” He might think twice about making or receiving calls in a crowded public place next time….but some people never learn…so I suggest taking his phone and smashing it on the ground….which will really make him ask ‘why?’ And a mean elbow to the mouth would enforce your dissatisfaction with his couldn’t care less attitude towards other members of the public. That’s just my personal view….which of course is wrong…but bumping into him and knocking his phone to the ground might help salve our disquiet and accidentally on purpose tramp on his phone with sufficient force to break the glass….oh well, you did ask for a reply, and yes, I know, not very helpful but truthful all the same. 🙂

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  5. This is a great article I love it.
    I read J Hansons letter about self awareness, and I hate texting during dinner rude.
    I learned a lot from your Article.
    Thank you
    Rima

    Reply

  6. I have not been rolled. But, then, I have not walked around with any fad thing which would hold my attention and keep me oblivious to my surroundings. Even before the current I-pads, there were portable stereos being carried around and “impressing everyone” with the loud music blaring into their owners’ ears. Then came recorded music, which would be playing into the owner’s earphones. And yes, a lot of those people got rolled, because they were openly carrying something that got the attention of someone else who would desire to have it for himself or take it for selling on the street.
    I have often been criticized for being “square,” “out of the loop,” “out of touch” and even old fashioned. I remember being asked why I walked around while not listening to something. My response was, I would rather listen to the birds and other sounds in my surroundings, rather than hear any music. It is quite true. It means that I do not attract unwanted attention and I can hear someone coming up behind me.
    Most of all, I would suggest, “Do not dress to impress.” do not try to stand out and avoid other means of getting unwanted attention. I admit my brownish skin helps me in lower income and non-white neighborhoods. But, even the vehicles that I have owned and driven, tend to be cheaper used ones and would not be mistaken for anything like a luxury car.

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  8. Amen! I try to stay in “Condition Yellow” as much as possible. I check reflective surfaces, I keep my head on a swivel, and I marvel at the number of people who do not notice me, either from talking to friends (on the phone) or texting, or just walking along listening to the music on the phone.

    The ones who text as they drive are the ones who really P*** me off. If I used the phone I would call the police on them. Guess that makes them lucky.

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  9. All it took for me was for me was to be found in a totally familiar place, walking with my hands in my pockets up to my elbow when a dirtbag ran up to my cousin and I, one screamed, “You take the one you want!”

    The next thing I knew, I was watching all sorts of beautiful balls of fire exploding inside my head, an instantaneous thought of “OH SHIT!” I’m falling face first into a busy street, and listening to the cacophony of squealing tires, bowing horns and that became l life long fear of some stranger who decided i had made a pass at his girl. I never remembered seeing a girl before you lights got punched out.

    The salient issue here was that what this guy did was illegal. I remember laying in the gutter, trying to shield my head from the kicks, stomps and other things my attacker had ready to use on me. I distinctly remember making a life long promise to myself that I something like that happened to me, an investigating officer would need a bucket and a sponge to determine what kind of subhuman had decided that I was an easy prey. I he had a bone in his body that wasn’t broken, It wouldn’t be my fault.

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  11. This one was real entertaining.. and I know what you mean!! Thanks to Mark Hatmaker for his handy lesson.. not that I have any intention of getting into a boxing fight with anyone! Am I aware? Do I have a smartphone? No. check. Am I reading this on my phone? No. I’m on my home computer. check. According to Mr Hanson, I am aware. Thank you for another great read

    Reply